Dhol maestro Pappu Sain passes away in Lahore

Dhol player Pappu Sain, known for his power-packed performances at the shrine of Baba Shah Jamal and beyond, passed away in Lahore following a prolonged illness. The musician had been battling liver cancer, due to which he had been shifted to the ICU of a local hospital recently. Internationally renowned, the dhol maestro earned mainstream recognition following his former stint with the band Overload. The news of Pappu Sain’s passing comes shortly after Overload frontman Farhad Humayun’s death in June.  

Driven by love for his craft, Pappu Sain was awarded the Tamgha e Imtiaz for his services to cultural production in Pakistan. The dhol player performed at several international venues, including those in the US, UK, Canada, UAE, Sweden and Germany. Apart from performing, Pappu Sain was also a teacher of the dhol. Born Zulfiqar Ali, the musician adopted the name Pappu Sain later on. With a career spanning over four decades, he dedicated his success solely to his spiritual master Baba Shah Jamal, considering his weekly performances at the shrine a spiritual duty. 

In a 2016 interview with The Express Tribune, Pappu Sain said of his open-for-all performances at the shrine, “I’m on duty assigned to me by my spiritual guide Baba Shah Jamal. The experience feels so innate and effortless that it seems as if someone else is playing the dhol for me.” 

On his commitment to his roots, the dhol maestro said, “I gave a new dimension to the art of dhol playing and have avoided adopting a commercial style despite having been part of a band and working with renowned singers.” 

Pappu Sain leaves behind his son, Qalander Baksh, who continues his father’s dhol-playing legacy at the shrine. The musician’s funeral will take place today at 3 PM, and he will be buried in his ancestral village of Chak Jhumra as per his wishes. 

Expressing grief over the passing of Pappu Sain, Minister of Culture and Colonies Punjab Khayal Ahmad Kastro said to The Express Tribune, “Pappu Sain was an internationally renowned dhol player. May God grant him high status in the hereafter.”

Horeya Asmat, a female drum player and student of Pappu Sain, spoke of the late musician’s services to culture. “Pappu Sain worked hard to promote a tolerant and loving image of Pakistan in the international community. His services when it comes to promoting the local folk tradition and music, especially the dhol, cannot be ignored. He brought music to the lives of many people, and as a teacher he was inclusive, teaching girls the art of the dhol as well,” she reflected. 

On Pappu Sain’s expertise and prowess, lyric writer Altaf Bajwa shared, “Not only did he perform all over the world, but Pappu Sain was also invited to speak about the art of the dhol and to lecture people about the techniques involved in dhol playing.” Speaking about the musician’s humble nature, he added,  “He was a Sufi, and despite his fame and recognition, if someone asked him to perform at any place, he would show up. I feel that the art of dhol playing had died with him and that no other dhol player in the field can reach his level of talent and expertise. He was a great, one of a kind artist.”